because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 The gospel is powerful. The power of the Bible comes from the Holy Spirit. The apostles that were commissioned by Christ to share the gospel. First, the apostles proclaimed “the gospel of God, and Christ, and to others. They not only were changed in the mind, but they were changed for the heart. The apostles were convinced of its truth. The Holy Spirit is accompanied by God, the…
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Live According
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13 Paul states the need for all to continually battle against all that would limit God’s work and purpose in our lives. Sin is always creeping into our lives to take control. Spiritual conflict is against our own selfish and ungodly desires. Our desires of the flesh. As christians, we have to choose daily, constantly to surrender to God’s nature and character or if we will choose sin. We put to death the deeds of the body through the power of…
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Sold Under Sin
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. Romans 7:14 Following Christ is one of the best things a person could ever do. Is it easy? No! Is it hard to live life without him? Yes! The phrase I am of the flesh, sold under sin, points to the spiritual or unspiritual condition of the persons who have not been reborn again in Christ. Paul is explaining the inability of the law to rescue us from sin. Yet, the good news (which is all about our savior and how he saves us) is capable of bringing spiritual salvation and freedom from sin…
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The Law And Sin
What then shall we say? That the law is a sin? By no means! Yes, if it had not been for the law. I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet. Romans 7:7 Please read Romans 7:7-25 for full context! Paul is describing the uselessness of trying to live right and please God in our own strength, without depending on God’s grace, mercy, and strength. Paul understood this from his own personal experience before he was a follower of Christ. He only depended on God’s law to be righteous. We can not…
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Dead To Sin
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11 If you are a true follower of Christ, you are dead to sin. This is a reflection in several areas of your Christian experience. In God’s view, you are dead to sin. According to verses five through 10, God considers us dead to sin with Christ on the cross. Also to be raised up to a new life and his resurrection. When you excepted Christ in your life, you died to sin. You’re spiritually reborn it by the power of the Holy Spirit. As a result, you have been given Christ power…
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Body of Sin
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Romans 6:6-7 There are two important phrases in these verses that Paul uses. The first one is “old self” and the second is “born again”. The first phrase is a symbol of who a person is before they are spiritually reborn. The second is how a person is restored to a right relationship with God. The old self is a person not following Christ. They are…
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Do We Keep Sinning?
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Romans 6:1-3 How many believers think that they can continue to sin because of God’s grace? Paul challenges this faulty idea that we can continue to sin and remain secure and guilt-free in their salvation because of God’s grace. People in Paul’s day believed the misguided view that they were not held to God’s moral laws as long as they had…
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God’s Anger
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who buy their own righteousness suppress the truth. Romans 1:18 God’s wrath is different than human emotions of anger. God has, control of his anger. God’s wrath as a display of justice and a whole reaction towards anything that is country or defiant against God’s standards and character. Gods anger is provided by the wicked behavior of individuals, nations, and the unfaithfulness of his people. God’s righteousness and holiness is an expression of his anger when He judges against sin. God is just applied anger and hatred, in the past, was revealed in situations…
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Saved By His Life
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled, to God but the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be served by his life. Romans 5:10 We were the enemy of God. This is not reverse. God desires us to have a deep relationship with him. We have offended God with our sin. Yet, God has provided a way to reunite us to him. God did this by sending his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins The first step to spiritual salvation is to except God‘s gracious gift of forgiveness. It is available through Jesus personal sacrifice. This is…
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Spiritual Blessing – Part 1
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 God gives us spiritual blessings. Even though we are found guilty before God, we repent, he turns around and forgives us and gives us spiritual blessings. We have been justified! Let’s review the meeting of justified. Just a fied means declared or made righteous in the sight of God. Righteousness means worthy, upright, good. When we repent God justifies – ( makes us good in the sight of God). We are worthy. This happens all through our faith, not works. shalom means peace. This term mean more then the…